Reflections of a Life Well-Lived

LaDoris Davis (Mitchell) daughter of Albert Nathaniel Mitchell and Amanda Mitchell was born on May 26, 1932, in Saint Louis, MO.

LaDoris was educated in the Saint Louis Public School District.

LaDoris was an active and faithful member of Christ Southern Mission Baptist Church for over 80 years until her health failed. Being an active member led to her being involved in several auxiliaries including The Busy 8 Service Club,  a Senior Choir member, The Health Unit, The Usher Board, and she was also known as the church cook which included cooking during the summers for the children at Vacation Bible School. 

LaDoris met Marvin Davis and on July 31, 1948, they married and to their union, they were blessed with 14 children - 10 Boys and 4 Girls. Marvin & LaDoris were married for 58 years until Marvin was called home on February 26, 2006.

 LaDoris was very talented and great with her hands. She could turn scrap material into a masterpiece without a pattern in a matter of minutes. LaDoris sewed robes for Christ Southern Mission’s children's choir, as well as for other churches. If you name it, she could create it. She used to make her children's and some of her grandchildren’s outfits all the time. She actually made every dress worn at her 50th wedding anniversary for her entire wedding party.

Not only was LaDoris a great seamstress, she was also an excellent cook. Some of LaDoris' specialties included her homemade rolls, cinnamon rolls, black walnut ice cream, caramel cakes, her tasty greens, dressing, iced tea, and the list goes on. She also had the best BBQ in town.

LaDoris loved to decorate. She passed her great talents down to some of her children and grandchildren. She not only cooked for her family but her neighbors as well. On any given Sunday you could pull up to LaDoris' house and find the parking lot outside her home completely full and her house packed from wall to wall with everyone enjoying her delicious food or winning a prize during a game of win, lose or draw. LaDoris was undoubtedly the best cook in the family. LaDoris loved to challenge anyone to a game of scrabble. She also enjoyed playing Uno with some of her grandchildren.

LaDoris was the Matriarch of her family.

LaDoris was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Davis Sr., both of her parents and four of her sons Marvin Jr, Michael Robert, Stephen Nathan, and Mark Anthony; her siblings, Delbert Richard,  Norma Jean, Albert Nathaniel, James Hicks, Bessie Mae, Brenda Joyce, and Ruth Ann as well as several of her grandchildren.

On Thursday, September 12th in the comfort of her room, at the age of 92, LaDoris transitioned and earned her golden crown. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by 10 of her loving children - Patricia, Cusandra Juanita, Eric Jerome (Linda), Gwendolyn, Velma Ivory, Gregory, Jonathan Paul, Timothy Lamont, Alan, and Lawrence (Lisa); her precious baby sisters Jacqueline Threlkeld, Mary Poe Smith, and Martha Tyler; two sisters-in-law, Cleo and Lucille;  31 grandchildren, 71 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great-grandchildren, two sisters in Christ - Hilda and Barbara Jean, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members.